Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Colosseum II
Label: MCA Records
Released: 1977
Runtime: 41:24
Rating: 4.5/5
Colosseum II were probably the most overlooked jazz rock fusion band of all time, even though they were one of the most talented supergroups the genre ever saw. Besides founder and drum maestro Jon Hiseman, who put the new version of the band together after his earlier outfits Colosseum and Tempest fell apart, the ‘holy trinity’ of Colosseum II was completed by Northern Irish guitar legend Gary Moore and keyboard wizard Don Airey (later of Rainbow and Deep Purple). The original lineup was rounded out by bassist Neil Murray (later of Whitesnake and Black Sabbath) and singer Mike Starrs (later of Lucifer’s Friend). Those last two had to go at the demand of the bosses at Bronze Records right after the excellent Colosseum II debut »Strange New Flesh« (1976), not so much because of commercial failure as because of the bizarre fact that Starrs had supposedly got on the wrong side of the wife of Gerry Bron, the well-known producer, music manager and founder of the aforementioned label.
Anyway, after that ‘incident’ Colosseum II jumped ship to MCA Records, picked John Mole as the new bassist, and, having decided to carry on without a lead singer, went almost fully instrumental. All the vocal lines on their second album, »Electric Savage«, or more precisely on its only vocal track, »Rivers«, were sung by Moore. Colosseum II’s sound on »Electric Savage« was still built around Moore’s blues-fueled electric guitar, with Airey’s keyboards playing a hugely important part, so here too they served up a hefty helping of punchy jazz rock fusion that has held up relatively well over time. It’s no surprise at all that the opening track, »Put It This Way«, is all about Gary’s lightning-fast guitar runs, backed by the slightly mystical sound of Airey’s synths, while the ridiculously dynamic Hiseman-Mole rhythm duo thrills at every turn.
The next instrumental, »All Skin & Bone«, turns out really interesting too. It’s a perfect ‘child’ of its time, since besides witty jazz fusion touches it also packs some funk and disco rhythmic elements. The ballad »Rivers«, which was recorded live, features Moore on lead vocals and heart-wrenching bluesy electric guitar passages, making it a deeply intimate moment on this stylistically pretty varied album. »The Schorch«, with plenty of playful Airey synth improvisations, is an instrumental that has aged a bit worse, while Moore’s electric guitar is once again strapped to a ‘rocket engine’, yet still sounds remarkably refined. »Lament« has a traditional jazz arrangement, which then gets an exquisitely refined treatment with virtuoso rocker segments on electric guitar.
One of the most vivid moments of the album is the romantic-yet-wild »Desperado«, where subtlety and energy walk hand in hand in perfect harmony, while the virtuoso masters, with Moore and Airey leading the charge, improvise like crazy yet still keep a clear melodic backbone. The album closes with two more solo compositions by Airey: the melancholic »Am I«, where Moore’s guitar finesse never runs dry amid the nostalgic arrangements, and »Intergalactic Strut«, seasoned with a hellish atmosphere, which fans of The Mahavishnu Orchestra will still enjoy today.
Going instrumental on »Electric Savage« was a hugely welcome call, because the virtuoso talents of the individual players, especially the two main ‘stars’, get a bit more room to shine than they did on the predecessor »Strange New Flesh«. Commercial success, though, even with jazz fusion at the peak of its popularity in 1977, still didn’t come from anywhere. After the third Colosseum II album, »War Dance«, released at the end of 1977, Moore decided (for the third time) to go back to Thin Lizzy. That briefly turned Colosseum II into Airey’s band. Don, together with his brother Keith, who was lined up as the new guitarist, had already started writing new music for a fourth Colosseum II album that never was, but then he got an offer from former Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore that he simply couldn’t refuse, and joined Rainbow instead. That was the definitive end of the short-lived Colosseum II story, while Hiseman revived the ‘original’ Colosseum years later.
Lineup
Gary Moore – guitar, vocals on “Rivers”
Don Airey – keyboards
John Mole – bass guitar
Jon Hiseman – drums, percussion
Production
Jon Hiseman
Track list
1. Put It This Way (4:55)
2. All Skin & Bone (3:46)
3. Rivers (5:50)
4. The Scorch (6:02)
5. Lament (4:40)
6. Desperado (5:59)
7. Am I (4:16)
8. Intergalactic Strut (5:58)
